Etihad Rail has confirmed that on 30 September 2026 two new stations join the UAE passenger map on the same day — Dubai Al Yalayis Station at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Al Dhaid Station in the Emirate of Sharjah. This is phase two of the 900 km network after the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah launch on 30 June 2026. For business, expats and cross-emirate logistics one thing changes: the Sharjah–Dubai corridor gets its first regular passenger rail service.
What opens on 30 September
According to Khaleej Times (5 August 2026) and ME Construction News, both stations start service on the same day — 30 September 2026. The Dubai station's official name is now confirmed on site in Arabic and English: «Dubai Al Yalayis Station». Externally the building is close to complete — the main facade, glass entrance, outer panels and Etihad Rail branding are in place; landscaping, surface works and the final pedestrian link are still under way.
Al Dhaid Station sits inland in the Emirate of Sharjah and is scheduled to open on exactly the same day as Al Yalayis. The synchronised launch is what makes this a distinct phase: for the first time, the passenger network forms an alternative to the road corridor between Sharjah and Dubai.
Al Yalayis — location and metro connection
The station stands next to the Jumeirah Golf Estates community and fronts onto Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) — the main inter-emirate artery. Its second address is Yalayis Street. The location was picked with interchange in mind: the underground Dubai Metro Jumeirah Golf Estates Station on the Red Line is already operating close by, and a covered pedestrian bridge of more than 300 metres (measured by Khaleej Times via Google Earth) is being built between the two platforms. Once open, passengers will move from an intercity Etihad Rail train to the city metro without stepping outside.
A third draw is Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai South. Gulf News puts the drive from Al Yalayis to DWC at about 30 minutes — a useful logistics leg given the airport's long-term expansion plans.
Al Dhaid — what it means for Sharjah
Al Dhaid is a historic oasis town in central Sharjah and a road node for the emirate's interior. From 30 September 2026 it gets a direct rail connection to Dubai (via Al Yalayis) and, further out, to the east coast (Fujairah) and Abu Dhabi. For residents of Sharjah's interior it is the first regular intercity rail service; for business it adds a new logistics node on the map, complementing the road network.
A separate Sharjah University City station, aimed at the campus audience and Sharjah city itself, opens later — on 30 March 2027 — and, according to Etihad Rail, «completes the first phase of Etihad Rail's passenger network».
Full schedule through March 2027
Etihad Rail's official 2026–2027 timeline:
- 30 June 2026 — Abu Dhabi (Mohammed Bin Zayed City) — Fujairah. Already operating. Journey time 1 hour 45 minutes; over 70,000 tickets sold in the first weeks.
- 30 September 2026 — Dubai Al Yalayis + Al Dhaid (Sharjah). The phase covered by this note.
- 30 November 2026 — Madinat Zayed + Liwa. Al Dhafra region, timed to its annual events season.
- 30 December 2026 — Al Sila + Al Dhannah + Al Mirfa. Western region.
- 30 March 2027 — Sharjah University City. Final piece of phase one.
The end state is a single network of roughly 900 km, with trains rated for up to 200 km/h and coverage of 11 cities and regions from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah on the east coast.
Fares and journey times — what is known
On the operational Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route fares start at AED 55 in Comfort Class and AED 120 in Premium Class. These are introductory prices at 50% off the base fares of AED 109 and AED 239. Each class has three flexibility tiers — Saver, Value and Flex; Value adds roughly AED 10 to the base fare. The introductory window is described as «introductory» without an announced end date.
Fares for the new segments (Dubai Al Yalayis, Al Dhaid and beyond) have not been officially published yet. Etihad Rail typically publishes the final grid a few weeks before a segment opens, alongside ticket sales.
An additional demand signal: on the running segment, bookings sit nearly two weeks ahead. As COO Azza Al Suwaidi put it, «when customers are booking nearly two weeks ahead, it tells us passenger rail is already becoming part of how people organise their journeys».
What this changes for business and expats
Three practical implications for our clients and the wider expat audience in the UAE:
- Sharjah–Dubai commuting. A large share of expats lives in Sharjah and works in Dubai — the E311 and Al Ittihad Road corridor is heavily congested at peak. Al Yalayis + Al Dhaid + a Red Line change give a car-plus-jam alternative and, for employers, a new transport benefit option for staff.
- Logistics and offices near stations. A passenger hub with metro integration lifts the value of commercial real estate around Al Yalayis — Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai South, the E311 spine. For companies that need access from multiple emirates (regulators, consulting, HR), it becomes a real factor when picking an office or warehouse location. A broader look at UAE logistics zones and how to choose one is in our guide on opening a logistics hub in the UAE.
- An infrastructure signal. Etihad Rail is a national-scale state infrastructure project; a synchronised roll-out every two to three months through March 2027 is a strong execution signal. For investors, this adds predictability to the broader UAE business regulation landscape in 2026 — passenger rail stops being a «coming eventually» story and becomes a concrete schedule.
What to watch next
Around two months remain to 30 September 2026. In that window Etihad Rail should publish the final fare grid for Dubai↔Abu Dhabi, Dubai↔Fujairah and Sharjah↔Dubai, open online booking and confirm timetables. A practical takeaway: if your office or home is within walking distance of Al Yalayis or Al Dhaid, it is worth building the rail route into staff commuting plans from the autumn and observing how it moves the company's transport costs.
This note is informational. Primary sources are Etihad Rail (etihadrail.ae) plus reports from Khaleej Times, Gulf News, ME Construction News and Construction Week Online with confirmed dates and locations. Fares are for the operational Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route; for new segments, verify the current figures on the official Etihad Rail website closer to the launch date.
Sources
- Khaleej Times — Dubai Al Yalayis Etihad Rail station takes shape ahead of September 30 opening (5 August 2026)
- Gulf News — Dubai's Etihad Rail passenger station to be named Al Yalayis Station
- ME Construction News — Etihad Rail to open Dubai and Al Dhaid stations on 30 September
- Gulf News — Etihad Rail Passenger Network Timeline: When Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhafra and Sharjah University City Stations Will Open
- Construction Week Online — Etihad Rail passenger station officially named Al Yalayis Station
- Khaleej Times — Etihad Rail passenger trains: Ticket booking opens with 50% discount; fares from AED 55
